Risk factors for periventricular leukomalacia.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors implicated in the development of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and to evaluate the possible association between PVL with neonatal morbidity.


METHODS
Retrospective case control study.


METHODS
Medical records of neonates admitted to a University Hospital between January 2000 and December 2005.


METHODS
Sixty-nine neonates with PVL born at gestational ages from 24 to 34 weeks. Forty-three of these had a cystic form of PVL (cPVL), whereas 26 had transient periventricular echodensities (PVE).


METHODS
Each case was matched for gestational age and year of birth with one control. The maternal and neonatal medical records were searched. All data was compared between cases with PVL and controls, as well as between cases with cPVL and those with PVE. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the independent predictors of PVL.


RESULTS
Neonates with PVL suffered more frequently from intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), respiratory distress syndrome type I (RDS I), seizures, sepsis, required more days of both mechanical ventilation and oxygen administration, while the duration of their hospitalization was longer compared to controls. Also, they were born more frequently to mothers who suffered from preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and clinical chorioamnionitis. We found that male gender, PPROM, preeclampsia, hypocarbia and IVH were independently associated with PVL.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that preterm neonates born to mothers with PPROM or preeclampsia, as well as neonates who presented with hypocarbia or suffered from IVH, appeared to be at high risk for the development of PVL.
Hatzidaki
Eleftheria
E
Department of Neonatology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. hritsa@yahoo.gr
Giahnakis
Emmanouel
E
Maraka
Sophia
S
Korakaki
Eftychia
E
Manoura
Antonia
A
Saitakis
Emmanouel
E
Papamastoraki
Isabella
I
Margari
Kaliopi-Maria
KM
Giannakopoulou
Christina
C
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014463:Ultrasonography